New Miracles, Family Blessings and a Valentine Wish

Today my family celebrated the Sabbath together for the first time as a family of seven.  Our little Cristabel slept through the majority of the celebration, but the event was clearly enhanced by her presence.  At a mere five days old she has already seen God's hand upon her life.  It seems that the umbilical cord and placenta were not attached appropriately, and because of this Shelly should have suffered internal bleeding and an emergency C-section.  The midwife and doctors were amazed that none of this occurred given what they saw.  They told us we were very lucky.  We felt blessed and thankful.

The sleepy little girl with chubby cheeks and a head that seems much too heavy for her to keep in a normal position has added much to the atmosphere of our home.  However, she was not the sole source of my thankfulness.  From the Sabbath feast prepared by my oldest daughter through the sermon delivered by Chaplain Price to the family discussion that lasted long past bedtime, I was reminded of the joys of parenthood.   With two little ones who want to fall asleep in my arms and three older ones who love discussing the important details of the morning's sermon and the impact of their beliefs on their future lives, I write this feeling very blessed.  

Of course all five of these blessings are available to me because of one great blessing that God bestowed upon me eighteen years ago.  My lovely bride has been a loving wife and wonderful mother and teacher to our children and continues to be the biggest reason why our home is such a tremendous blessing to me.  And just this week she has once again amazed me with her strength and courage. 

To my wonderful wife and once more "new" mother I say Happy Valentine's Day.  I love you.

FUNF

Introducing... Adele Cristabel Lopez

She arrived at 5:30 p.m. (Central European Time) on Tuesday, February 8,

weighing 8 lbs. 12 oz. and measuring 21 1/2 inches long.

What a blessing from God!

Capturing a Bit of "Home"

This was our first glimpse of our new house ...

As you travel along Hohenfelserstrasse, you would catch this view of the back of our house ...

Hiking up the hill from our house, you would reach some castle ruins that overlook Lupburg ...

The next two photos capture the village of Lupburg from about three kilometers away...

 
and a bit closer...

Lupburg ... soon to be Home Sweet Home.



Information OVERLOAD

Did you know that ...

• while Germany is slightly smaller than Montana, it is divided into 16 Bundeslander, or Federal States?
• nine different countries share borders with Germany? Can you name them??
• there is a 19% sales tax on everything (except food purchased in grocery stores, 7% sales tax) in Germany, and it is the lowest rate in the European Union?
• we live in Bavaria (Bayern), the largest German state with Germany's tallest peak, the Zugspitze, located in the Bavarian Alps?
• Germans recycle EVERYTHING???

For example, a quick "We're living on pre-packaged microwaveable food in this small hotel room" lunch consisting of Bagel Bites, an apple, and a bottle of Coke would be recycled in the following manner:

1) The outer packaging of the Bagel Bites box = cardboard and would be recycled in the paper bin.

2) The inner packaging of the Bagel Bites = plastic and "layered packaging" and would be recycled in the yellow bag (if living in Lupburg, which we are!).

3) The apple core = food waste and would be recycled in the green "bio bag."

4) The bottle of Coke --- is it glass? is it hard or soft plastic? was it purchased on the Germany economy or at the Shoppette on post? is it labeled Mehrweg Flasche (return for deposit to any store) or Pfandfrei (no deposit, just recycle)?

Someone, get me a glass of water. But wait ... that water could be carbonated, slightly carbonated, mineral, still, or tap ...

Did you know that after just a little over a month of living in Germany, we still have so very much to learn?!?

Anticipating ...

So much of life seems to be spent anticipating the next big event. Over the past few months, our life has revolved around The Move. We have anticipated everything from saying "Good-bye" to dear friends in Hawaii to beginning new friendships in a new land ... from packers wrapping up our "life" to others delivering it halfway across the world ... long, trans-oceanic flights ... celebrating holidays with family ... creating a home in a house somewhere in Germany ... learning the customs and language of the German people ...

Have we allowed these "big" events to swallow up the moment-by-moment living coram Deo, before the face of God? Will we allow the snow-covered firs of the Black Forest glistening in the sunshine to remind us of the miraculous on a daily basis? Do we anticipate that sun rising each morn? Do we remember the One who calls it up each day?

With the arrival of February, we are anticipating a huge miracle ... new life. Remembering that God Almighty gathered the dust in His Hands, formed man, and breathed life into that man, I am humbled by the part I have been given to play. God has chosen to bless us again, and we can hardly wait to meet Cristabel, our fuenf (#5)!